Improvement in car-couplings



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JAMES A. HINSON," OF OSKALOOSA, IOWA.

IMPROVEMENT IN cfm-courantes.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N o. 1885l6, dated Merch 20, 1877; application iled September 30, 1876. f

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES ADDISON HIN- soN, of Oskaloosa, in the county of Mahaska drawings, which form a part of this specilication, and in Which- Figure l is a perspective Viewl of the drawhead of a car having my improved coupling. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal horizontal section of the same; and Fig. 3 is a plan View of two draw-heads, showing' the method of coupling.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

This invention relates to car-couplings; and it consists in the peculiar construction of the coupling-hook, which enables it to be thrown ont of the way when the coupling is to bev used with the old-fashioned pin and link, substantially as hereinafter more fully shown and described.

In the drawing, A is the 'draw-head. Instead of making the front ofthis square, as is usually the case, it is made high and comparatively narrow. It may, if desirable, be divided by horizontal dividing-plates into sections'a a, one'above the other; but this is not necessary. It has a vertical perforation, b, into which a pin may be inserted, for use with link-couplings.

On one' side the draw-head A hasa recess, in which is pivoted the coupling-hook B. This consists of two sections, hinged together at c. Ihe forward section, O, consists of a Stem, terminating in a beveled hook, and the rear section, D, is simply a stem, forming a continuation of C. Ihe pin d, by which the coupling-hook is pivoted in the draw-head, passes through the rear section D.

E is a metallic plate, pivoted upon the rear section D, as shown. The object of this plate is to give rigidity to the coupling-hook when in use; If the coupling is to be used with pin and link, the plate E may be turned out of the way, thus permitting section C to be folded back, so as not to obstruct the front of the draw-head.

F is a coiled spring,placjed under the rear end of stem D in a recess of the drawfhead.

the coupling-hook B is a beveled projection,

G. Behind this projection, on the upper and lower sides of the draw-head, are brackets e e, between which is pivoted a plate, f, the pivoting-pin of which is affixed solidly to the plate, and terminates in a rod, It, reaching up to the platform or top ofthe car.

The operation of my improved car-coupling is as follows: When the cars come t0- gether the coupling-hooks are pushed aside by the opposite draw-heads, and engage with the projections G, being held inplace by the action of the springs F.

To unconple,-it is only necessary to turn the plates j' by rods h, which, for this purpose, may be provided with suitable handles or cranks. The' result of this is, that the hooks will be pushed out of the recesses behind projections Gr, and the cars will be uncoupled. j

The peculiar construction of the couplinghooks B renders my improved carcoupling easily adapted for use with pin and link 5 the height of the draw-head enables cars of unequal height to be easily coupled without danger of missing;l and the general construction is cheap and efficient.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States- The coupling-hook B. consisting of stems U D, hinged together at c, and plate E, pivoted upon section D, substantially as and for the purpose shown and specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature'in presence oftwo witnesses.

LoUIs BAGGER, WM. Ended-111.`

,Feren- 

